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League Match: Donaghadee 24 - 3 Ballymoney (13/11/99)

"ANOTHER GOOD LEAGUE WIN AT DONAGHADEE

Donaghadee started their match at Newtownards Road last Saturday against Ballymoney in very cold conditions but in hot form. Such was the pressure from the kick off that Balllymoney strayed offside in front of their posts and were duly punished by a Paul Blewitt goal. Donaghadee continued to exert the pressure, and after impressive runs from Sharn Christensen and Jody Waterworth the home side were able to take a scrum against the head. This allowed the backs to run the ball twice across the field culminating in a fine try in the left corner from Philip McNamara.

Another penalty had the dual effect of putting Donaghadee 11-0 in front and signalling that the team could go to sleep for a while. Of course this is not really true, it just seemed like that from the touchline. In part this impression came from the fact that at five minutes to three Ballymoney made their very first incursion into Donaghadee's half. Since this resulted in a converted penalty goal for them, this seemed to demonstrate that the visitors were not quite finished.

When Donaghadee did get good possession the passing from the base of the scrum or other set piece and the subsequent crossfield transfers were clumsy-looking and laboured. Fortunately the Donaghadee defence was of a much higher standard than the passing. The game deteriorated into an exchange of clearance kicks, runs from defence and missed attempts at penalty goals. On an individual basis the Donaghadee running was pulse-racing stuff, principally from the newer guys Christensen and Scott English, but was not capitalised on to add to the points total. As the half-time break approached, Donaghadee's passing was so slip-shod that both players and spectators were looking for the referee's whistle. To the relief of both, it came.

The new half began with a penetrating run from newly-returned Aaron Martin who released Ian Martindale. Unluckily Ian slipped just when it looked like he was in, but from the resulting maul Donaghadee were awarded a penalty and Paul Blewitt made no mistake.

At the threequarter mark in the game the best running was coming from the Donaghadee forwards, with Matt Duff and man-of-the-match Scott English making the most effective surges. Everyone appeared to be keen to take the ball just a little too far as an individual, and leaving possession to the lottery of a ruck, where a controlled turn, looking for supporting colleagues would carry the move a good deal further.

As these things often do, all of a sudden Donaghadee's previously poor team running gelled. The ball was quickly moved left to Kurt Courtney, who went to ground, but the support was there instantly to give fast ball to the backs who were screaming for it. Each man this time caught and gave sweetly out as far as Waterworth, with a little room. Seeing that he had young Duff scampering outside him, Jody skillfully took the ball right to his man, fixed him totally and sent Crash Matt in for a storming try in the right corner.

Almost as if they wanted to show that this was not a fluke the boys did it again. From a beautifully controlled rolling maul which eventually halted on the Ballymoney "22", the ball was zapped to the right with efficiency and style across the backline for Christensen this time to put in the pass to send Waterworth on his way to the same corner as the one which had been decorated a moment earlier. With the score now 24-3 to Donaghadee the home side tried once more with a good sequence of passes and flowing rugby. But when the Ballymoney defence held them out for a change they seemed to settle for the existing scoreline and the game ended.

Probably everybody, except of course the Ballymoney contingent, thought Donaghadee's beginning and end were both stirring and efficient. Only the France/New Zealand game in the recent World Cup could exceed it. For those two periods their opponents hardly got a look-in. But in the middle period from about half-way through the first half to half-way through the second, there were so many mistakes made, mostly by the backs, that coaches and spectators could hardly believe it.

If it seems churlish to criticise a team which has won a league game 24-3 it must be said that it is because this team is so much better than the middle period last Saturday showed. Running away from support when your forwards are at your shoulder, and passes along the ground or behind the target are the result of diminished concentration. The determined tackling, the co-ordinated defence and the cleaning up of untidy play is excellent. It is obvious that when they see their opponents with the ball their concentration is total.

The start and finish last week was so exciting that it showed the concentration can be just as focussed in attack. Playing as well as that all the time is what everyone wants including the players because it is obvious that the desire to gain promotion is held by all. These players can do it, but in order to achieve the goal they must recognise that they have become a very good team, and must truly believe it - all the time.

Question for the fans - How many different nationalities are there currently in the Donaghadee front row?

Answer: Six (Think about it?)

An Austrailian, a New Zealander, an Ulsterman, a Scott, an English and a Welch!!!"